My first time going to Cocoa Beach, I was hit with the paid parking, and I didn't like that,…read moreespecially since I planned on spending the whole day at the beach. After doing some research, I found out that there are public parking lots, which was great to know. That's when I came across Lori Wilson Park, which has both North and South parking lots. I decided to go with the North side. It was close to the restrooms, and it was just a quick walk across the bridge straight to the beach. There are three beach entrances on this side, and they also have showers right at the entrance where you can rinse off the sand after leaving the beach. There is also a South side with more parking, but for me, the North side just looked more appealing. As you enter the North side, there's a playground to the left where the kids can play. I thought this was really convenient for parents who want to let their children burn off some energy before heading to the beach. Between the playground and the beach, that sounds like a great day for a kid! On this side, there was also a lifeguard, as well as someone renting sunbeds, umbrellas, and surfboards. It seemed like they had pretty much everything you would need for a great beach day. I brought my own tent and chairs, so that worked out just fine for me. But having the rentals right there is really convenient if you don't want to deal with the hassle of bringing everything yourself. The beach was great! The waves were a little rough, but not so rough that you couldn't get in the water and enjoy yourself. There was also a surfing competition going on while I was there. There seemed to be people of all ages participating, so that was really cool to watch and added something extra to the day. Another great beach day accomplished!

When visiting this beautiful 32.43-acre oceanfront park it is to picture that this was once an…read moreunofficial city dump. Standing among the sea oats and beach, it's almost impossible to imagine that this land was neglected until the mid 1970s. The park owes its transformation to the vision and determination of Lori Wilson, an attorney, Florida State Senator, and passionate environmental advocate. After moving to Florida in 1960, Wilson served in the Florida Senate from 1973 to 1978, becoming only the third woman and the first Independent to hold the office. She was a strong supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment and championed numerous environmental causes, working with organizations such as Save Our Waterways, the National Association of County Officials Environmental Steering Committee, and the Central Florida Zoological Society. Senator Wilson was a visionary and she was determined to restore this stretch of coastline organized a massive community cleanup. Local youth organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs, spent weeks removing trash, planting native vegetation, and restoring it back to its natural condition. In appreciation for her leadership and dedication, the grateful community voted to name the restored park in her honor. Today, Lori Wilson Park is one of Cocoa Beach's most popular beach parks. The Mansfield Maritime Hammock which is stop on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, features a .6-mile interpretive boardwalk through a protected coastal canopy filled with native plants. It is an important stopover for migratory birds. Dog lovers will appreciate the spacious 32,000-square-foot fenced off-leash dog park, which opened in 2006 through a partnership between Cocoa Beach and Brevard County. More recent improvements include upgraded dune crossovers built with durable composite materials, a renovated dog park, and modernized restrooms and outdoor shower facilities. The park also is where you can find I Dream of Jeannie Lane named in 1996 in honor of the TV show I Dream of Jeannie, a TV show about a genie in love with an astronaut that aired from 1965 to 1970 and was fictionally set in Cocoa Beach. The historical marker was added in 2012. I appreciated that the parking is free and there is easy beach access. I also enjoyed my time exploring the maritime Hammock. Thanks to Lori Wilson residents and visitors can enjoy ocean access, nature walks, and a place for off leash dog play. Lori Wilson Park is an inspiring example of what a community can accomplish when they pull together.

Cool park with a walking path, pond , and some statues. We didn't see any manatees, but they are…read morethere. The parking lot was large and the park is very open, great for walking.

A very nice park well kept where, if you are lucky, you can view some manatees…read more Manatee Sanctuary Park in Cape Canaveral, Florida, is a well-maintained park in the area for all to enjoy. It is located right along the Banana River between Port Canaveral and Ron Jon's. The entire property is well-kept and manicured. It features a nice paved walking and jogging path for a workout or a peaceful stroll. Between the walking path and the river there is a covered walkway with pavilions that stretch along the water's edge. While manatee sightings can be hit or miss, the general peace and the chance to spot other creatures like dolphins and wading birds make a trip to this location worthwhile. Right off the parking lot, a fun detail that adds character to the park is the very nice statue of turtles. Taller than an average person. The park provides a good size parking lot that can comfortably fit about 25 cars, which is a huge plus, ensuring easy access even during slightly busier times. While the park does have bathrooms, they were unfortunately not the cleanest on the day of my visit. OVerall, Manatee Sanctuary Park is a nice place for visitors looking for beautiful scenery, and excellent paths for exercise. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a quiet, relaxing outdoor escape.

If I visit Cocoa I always make a point to visit this lovely park. When you need a place to take a…read morebreak from shopping and dining in downtown Cocoa Village, head over to Cocoa Riverfront Park. This is the perfect spot to relax on a bench and take in the beautiful view of the Indian River and the Hubert Humphrey Causeway. Cocoa Riverfront Park was once the home of the Porcher family. Their neoclassical mansion is still in the park. The families packinghouse was on the river bank behind the house. It was used to process produce delivered by boat the family's groves on Merritt Island. Today the park is a recreational destination for visitors to Cocoa Village. It has an open lawn area, playground, amphitheater, boardwalk, splash fountain, and covered pavilions. There are areas for fishing, water sports, and to launch a boat. The Porcher House can be rented for weddings. Cocoa Riverfront Park is a destination for concerts and community events like the July 4th celebration and fireworks. This park connects to Taylor Park and Lee Wenner Park providing 10 acres of recreational space along the Indian River for everyone to enjoy.

The venue and vibe are amazing. The upkeep on the bathrooms is not good. I understand during…read morecertain events and being crowded it's hard to keep the bathrooms clean, but not once during a recent concert was any of the permanent washrooms cleaned or even checked. Yes there were portapotties on site but you still need to maintain the brick and mortar ones.

The best part about this place is being able to reserve parking online. If you do that, from what I…read moreunderstand, you are guaranteed entry. Bonus, if there is a line waiting for the booth and someone scans your QR code before that, you can just swing around them and enter if there is room. You still get a great view of SpaceX though those pads are about as far to the north as you can get. The real reason to go here would be for any boosters coming down to the LZs or perhaps Blue Origin which I believe launches from the south.

Jetty Park is wonderful county park. Very clean and scenic. My goal was different from others. I…read morewas at the nearby cruise terminal and wanted to get some exercise before the cruise. Was able to accomplish that with walking around. Jetty Park is near the Cape Canaveral launch site, but unfortunately no activity the day I was there. Definitely worth a stop.

Searching for True Love & Forgiveness? Talk to GOD and get a…read moreDOG! #ReflectDogs Love & Forgiveness Well if you're into agility items, cute buildings, shaded seating areas and interesting structures this dog park was made for you!! They even have the mandatory fire hydrant. There is a nice big double-gated entry with a huge tree and nice bench in it. Put dog park has a couple poop bag dispensers as well as trash cans and a water feature. You can park right next to the dog park. The ground covering is mostly sand and grass. But beware there seem to be quite a few biological landmines?

Terrific lakeside park with play areas for children, large and small dogs. I think dogs on the…read morenature trail require a leash. It's currently undergoing construction via a large donation from a local humanitarian and through the work of volunteers and help from a construction team. Unleash Day, the opening ceremony is December 12, 2021. Bathrooms are on a time lock and currently closed until the bathroom floor resurfacing dries. The nature trail is suitable for seniors with walkers, people requiring a wheelchair, and Mom's with strollers. The large loop is about 3 miles, smaller loop about 1/2 mile and goes around a lake. The roadside trail has older oak trees. Both loops go around a trail. The trail is posted no trespassing in neighborhood or nature preserve so stay on the trail. Beware of golf carts on the trail. It's good for bikes and skates, too. The play areas feature bridges, mini hills and culverts. A swing set is near the lake. Their are covered benches. We spotted a kingfisher, Mallard ducks, a Snowy Egret, an Osprey with a fish, and palm warblers.

I had an enjoyable visit to Riverwalk Park and Nature Center in Rockledge. This 6.37 acre community…read morepark is now a family friendly, nature centered destination that will inspire a love of the outdoors among its youngest visitors. It wasn't always that way. In 1999 the park was named Hoo-Hoo Park from a fraternal order of lumbermen called Hoo Hoo International that contributed to the building of the park's boardwalk. A Sheriff's Office sting operation arrested 32 men on sex charges. Over 300 people were charged with improper sexual activities during the 10 years the park was open. Brevard County closed the park and worked on rebranding it for the community with a new name, Riverwalk Family Park. They added a nature center and invested $275,000 in park improvements. Today this a destination anyone who loves nature would be happy to visit. I started out in the charming nature center where I met Tommy, Pringles, and Chips, the resident turtles who swam right up to the glass to say hi. The nature center has displays about the animals and plants that live near the Indian River, maps and information on other local nature parks, and it also offers nature programs. On the day I visited they had binoculars for use in the park and free water color painting set up. Behind the nature center is a 915 foot boardwalk that takes you to the Indian River Lagoon. Although it is shorter compared to other nature boardwalks in Brevard County, it is the perfect length for the same children who would enjoy the nature center. In 2016 Riverwalk Park received a $20,000 grant from the National Recreation and Park Association. They used the money to build a Nature Explore Classroom set between the trees of the nature preserve. The interactive play zones radiate around a central grassy area with an old tree stump as the focal point. Some of the areas are a water play area, plants and play, a deck for tree forts, and musical instruments. The park also has a picnic pavilion, restrooms, and a butterfly garden.

Excellent little boardwalk path. Fun to enjoy when no one else is there…read more I love the unique rock formations by the water, though I was surprised how short the walk is. Wish the boarded path would lead over the ravine and into a nice picnic/play area. I like how some of the plants along the walk are marked. Did not appreciate the cigarette butts by the water. This isn't the park's fault, but all it takes is one negligent person to destroy everything.

Really good area for kids camping and stuff like relaxing and parties or whatever quiet placeread more

Awesome little park with river front walk in. Gazebos for lunches/dinners, playground equipment,…read moreand a stage/party area as well. Lots of parking too.

Looking for a sunshine day, like the Brady's sing about? It starts right here, at Alan Shepard…read morepark. What a great place to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic! We raced over from Tampa to get here by dawn and found plenty of parking (you can pay by card, coin or Park Mobile app). It's just a short walk by boardwalk/ramp to the sand and there it is: sea, sun and surf... right at your feet. It's really Florida gorgeous... and so easy to access. It's also right behind Ron Jon's Surf Shop and a great place to watch rocket launches from nearby Cape Canaveral. I'll definitely go back, again and again!

A really nice beach with a paid parking lot right next to it; it's just a few steps to the beach…read morefrom your vehicle. The sand and water were nice. The body and foot showers near the parking lot are greatly appreciated. There are lots of retails and restaurants places to walk to from the beach parking lot, so you don't have to move your vehicle.

Robert P. Murkshe served as mayor from 1963 to 1972. During that time he guided the city through an…read moreextraordinary period of growth and transformation. At the beginning of his tenure, Cocoa Beach was a small community of just 3,475 residents and lacked many essential public facilities, including a hospital, high school, junior high school, and municipal recreation facilities. it lacked the infrastructure you would find in a modern city. By the time he left office, the population had grown to more than 12,000. He established and expanded these important community resources and his leadership also helped lay the groundwork for the environmental preservation efforts that continue to protect Cocoa Beach's natural resources and coastal beauty. Named in his honor, Robert P. Murkshe Memorial Park is a 2.5 acre beachfront park located at 16th Street South. A paved walkway leads from the parking area and restrooms over the dunes to the beach. Amenities include an outdoor shower, a covered picnic pavilion with tables and a grill, and free parking. A cool find in this park was the artwork that Guy Harvey lent to the Creative Cans in the Sand project, a not-for-profit with the mission to help encourage beach goers to dispose of their trash responsibly. Guy Harvey is an artist, scientist, diver, angler, conservationist, explorer and entrepreneur who is famous for his coastal artwork. The cans bring art to the park in the hopes that it will encourage visitors to dispose of garbage in the cans, not on the beach. When I visited the park I noticed that this beach is popular with surfers and saltwater fishermen. I appreciated the convenient beach access and relaxed vibe. When you are looking looking for a quieter stretch of Cocoa Beach to enjoy the waves, Robert P. Murkshe Memorial Park is a great choice.

This has moved up to our go to beach. There's free parking, showers, and bathroom…read more If you go to the left when u get to the beach, that is the dog side in the morning and after 6 pm. If you go to the right of the life guard side, you can go there with your dog. It's so spacious and nice and clean. The water feels amazing during the summer. We live by Tampa and come this way. We have been here almost a handful of times now. It's never packed to the rim with people. It's pretty awesome to see the cruise ship in the far back. I was just saying can't believe I found another fave beach after living here for just over ten years. Love it here!!

Playground suitable for ages 5 to 12. Large pavilion with…read moreabout eight picnic tables. Much shade provided by pine and palm trees. Exercise trail. These are all located on one side of the main driveway. On the other side of the driveway are sports fields and small bathrooms (no change tables in bathrooms). A few swings are located not by the playground but near the sports fields and restrooms. Entire park surrounded by residential neighborhood. Two small parking lots available.

This is a wonderful park. It has plenty of tennis courts and also has two soccer fields right next…read moreto it. It also has baseball fields. If you're looking for a park to go and play tennis, soccer, football or baseball this is the place to go.